Title: "The Laughing Man" (1949) Short story collection: Nine Stories
Author: J.D. Salinger
Genre: Macabre, Frame story, allegory
Description:
The Laughing Man starts out as a man's recollection of the pleasures of storytelling and ends with the intersection between adult need and childish innocence. A perfect blend of comedy and pathos, a story within a story. The narrator is a nine year old boy and the story of The Laughing Man is told by John Gedsudski, or the Chief as he is known to the young boys. The group of boys calls themselves the Comanches, they are sort of a Boy-Scout like group. They play sports everyday at the park when the weather is nice, or go to a museum when it rains. After their activities the Chief always tells the story, making up the story as he goes along, about a man who is kidnapped by Chinese bandits as a child and has a deformed face because of them, causing him to wear a mask. As the Chief's daily life becomes more problematic, the story becomes much more realistic and parallels the Chief's life and what he wishes it would be. It also becomes more violent, leading to a surprising and frightening ending.
Themes:
Death, memory, storytelling, loss of innocence
Rationale:
Written in the first person, the comic and poignant rendering of events is told from the perspective of a nine year old boy. It is a story about storytelling. The reader is offered two separate forms and two parallel narratives, out of the collision of which he or she can read a third, synthetic tale. More than about a nine year-old’s camp experiences, or a young man’s troubled relationship, or a deformed criminal hopscotching around the globe, The Laughing Man is about what it means to tell a story, how the teller and his tale are ultimately inextricable from one another, and how subjectivity is a constant presence.
When the news arrives of her husband’s sudden and unexpected death, Mrs. Mallard seeks solitude and ponders her loss. As she thinks about the change in her situation, an overwhelming sense of freedom supplants her grief. Thrilled by the prospects of a new life of independence, she begins making plans for her future. Mr. Mallard, who has not died, arrives at home. Mrs. Mallard immediately dies of heart failure. Theme or Topic: Feminism. Subjugation. Surprise.
Rationale:
“The Story of an Hour” can be quickly read in class. The story introduces themes of subjugation and feminism. The twist at the end of the tale offers students an excellent example of a surprise ending. Despite the age of the text, contemporary students are able to understand the language. The piece is valuable as an example of an older text written by an advocate for women’s rights.
The narrator describes his mental states before, during, and after he has murdered an old man. In an attempt to prove his own innocence, the narrator exposes the addled nature of his own mind. The victim of his own fear and guilt, he is overwhelmed by a neurotic paranoia and reveals his own crime to the authorities. Theme or Topic: Insanity. Psychological states. Murder. Rationale: Critics have long considered Poe to be a master of the short story. “The Tell-Tale Heart” remains accessible for modern readers in spite of its date. High school readers are captivated by the narrator’s passionate yet flawed defense of his sanity. Lexile Level: 1350L
Title:“It's Bad Luck to Die” fromHere's Your Hat What's Your Hurry
Author: Elizabeth McCracken
Genre: Short story, social commentary
Description:
“It's Bad Luck to Die” is a story about a young woman who marries a much older tattoo artist. He tattoos her extensively and she describes their relationship, her growth as an individual and the corresponding conflicts up until his death. The story begs questions of gender politics while centering on artistic and familial elements.
Themes:
Gender equality, social norms, artistic expression
Rationale:
When I first read McCracken's piece it inspired one of the most heated classroom debates I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I believe that effect was in no small part due to the simple elements of the story conspiring to problematize widely held beliefs concerning gender and society. McCracken's juxtaposition of traditional relationship elements with overt transgression of societal norms generates a rich environment for debate and critical reflection.
Text ComplexityRubric:
Layout: Very Complex Purpose and Meaning: Somewhat Complex Structure: Somewhat Complex Language Features: Somewhat Complex Knowledge Demands: Complex
Title:“On The Rainy River” fromThe Things They Carried
Author: Tim O'Brien
Genre: Coming of age, short story, war story, historical fiction
Description:
“On The Rainy River” is the story of a young man struggling with the choice between accepting his draft notice for the Vietnam War or running to Canada. The tale plays out on the title river that sits on the border between the US and Canada.
Themes:
The Morality of War, Responsibility, Integrity
Rationale:
The title novel of O'Brien's collection is regularly taught at the 11th and 12th grade levels, but this selection is set prior to the narrator's military action. This brings the experience closer to home for students. Rather than asking them to meditate on the choices and repercussions of military experience, this text centers on the moment of engagement of a young individual into a global conflict.
Lexile Level:
880L
Text Complexity Rubric:
Layout: Very Complex Purpose and Meaning: Somewhat Complex Structure: Somewhat Complex Language Features: Somewhat Complex Knowledge Demands: Somewhat Complex
This is a safe short story to use in the classroom that will probably not need to be vetted by the district or parents as it exists in a few textbooks such as the Holt Elements Of Literature series. Anyhow the story takes place in a futuristic and dystopian future where anyone with any talents are shackled or implanted with handicapping devices. The main character for example has weights on his arms and legs because he is stronger than most. So, it is a story that can be used in many different contexts but i like in the context of lesson plan or unit about Angst and Rebellion against oppression, which teens love--or at least I did when I was that age. I would be a fun story to use in a unit on Utopia/Dystopia as well.
Theme:
Angst. Rebellion. Dystopia/Utopia.
Rationale:
One can find this short story in many compilations or anthologies but Welcome To The Monkey house is a must own in my opinion and there are many other short stories in it that are worth reading over and over again.
Text Complexity:
Qualitatively this short story and others the compilation are probably at the upper high school level because of the layers of meaning in these short stories and the complexity of the themes that are woven throughout.
Title: "A Private Experience" from The Thing Around Your Neck
Author: Chimamanda Adichie
Genre: Short Story, Fiction, African Lit
Description:
Two women are caught in a violent street riot and take shelter in an abandoned shop. One is of the Igbo Christian religion, the other Muslim.
Theme:
Stereotypes, Religion, Social Class
Rationale:
This story examines the danger of stereotyping and only knowing a single story about a culture. The story is suspenseful, thought-provoking and opens the classroom to discussions about religious wars and prejudices.
Text Complexity:
This story contains flash forwards that may confuse lower level readers. It contains mature content such as death, violence and a vaguely sexual scene.
Short Stories
Title: "The Laughing Man" (1949) Short story collection: Nine Stories
Author: J.D. Salinger
Genre: Macabre, Frame story, allegory
Description:
The Laughing Man starts out as a man's recollection of the pleasures of storytelling and ends with the intersection between adult need and childish innocence. A perfect blend of comedy and pathos, a story within a story. The narrator is a nine year old boy and the story of The Laughing Man is told by John Gedsudski, or the Chief as he is known to the young boys. The group of boys calls themselves the Comanches, they are sort of a Boy-Scout like group. They play sports everyday at the park when the weather is nice, or go to a museum when it rains. After their activities the Chief always tells the story, making up the story as he goes along, about a man who is kidnapped by Chinese bandits as a child and has a deformed face because of them, causing him to wear a mask. As the Chief's daily life becomes more problematic, the story becomes much more realistic and parallels the Chief's life and what he wishes it would be. It also becomes more violent, leading to a surprising and frightening ending.Themes:
Death, memory, storytelling, loss of innocenceRationale:
Written in the first person, the comic and poignant rendering of events is told from the perspective of a nine year old boy. It is a story about storytelling. The reader is offered two separate forms and two parallel narratives, out of the collision of which he or she can read a third, synthetic tale. More than about a nine year-old’s camp experiences, or a young man’s troubled relationship, or a deformed criminal hopscotching around the globe, The Laughing Man is about what it means to tell a story, how the teller and his tale are ultimately inextricable from one another, and how subjectivity is a constant presence.Lexile Level:
None availableMedia Resources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVb9eb7jzmM&feature=related (Overview of Salinger's life)Title: "The Story of an Hour"
Author: Kate Chopin
Genre: Short Story
Description:
When the news arrives of her husband’s sudden and unexpected death, Mrs. Mallard seeks solitude and ponders her loss. As she thinks about the change in her situation, an overwhelming sense of freedom supplants her grief. Thrilled by the prospects of a new life of independence, she begins making plans for her future. Mr. Mallard, who has not died, arrives at home. Mrs. Mallard immediately dies of heart failure.Theme or Topic:
Feminism. Subjugation. Surprise.
Rationale:
“The Story of an Hour” can be quickly read in class. The story introduces themes of subjugation and feminism. The twist at the end of the tale offers students an excellent example of a surprise ending. Despite the age of the text, contemporary students are able to understand the language. The piece is valuable as an example of an older text written by an advocate for women’s rights.Text Complexity Rubric for Literary Texts:
Layout: SimplePurpose & Meaning: Somewhat Complex
Structure: Simple
Language Features: Somewhat Complex
Knowledge Demands Fiction: Simple
Lexile Level:
1030LMedia Resources:
http://www.slideshare.net/esalona/the-story-of-an-hour-vocabulary (vocab in story)Title: “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Author: Edgar Allen Poe
Genre: Thiller/Horror/Psychological
Description:
The narrator describes his mental states before, during, and after he has murdered an old man. In an attempt to prove his own innocence, the narrator exposes the addled nature of his own mind. The victim of his own fear and guilt, he is overwhelmed by a neurotic paranoia and reveals his own crime to the authorities.Theme or Topic:
Insanity. Psychological states. Murder.
Rationale:
Critics have long considered Poe to be a master of the short story. “The Tell-Tale Heart” remains accessible for modern readers in spite of its date. High school readers are captivated by the narrator’s passionate yet flawed defense of his sanity.
Lexile Level: 1350L
Text Complexity Rubric for Literary Texts:
Layout: Somewhat ComplexPurpose & Meaning: Somewhat Complex
Structure: Somewhat Complex
Language Features: Complex
Knowledge Demands Fiction: Complex
Media Resources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEIMERxgi4 (Film version of story)Title: “It's Bad Luck to Die” from Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry
Author: Elizabeth McCracken
Genre: Short story, social commentary
Description:
“It's Bad Luck to Die” is a story about a young woman who marries a much older tattoo artist. He tattoos her extensively and she describes their relationship, her growth as an individual and the corresponding conflicts up until his death. The story begs questions of gender politics while centering on artistic and familial elements.Themes:
Gender equality, social norms, artistic expressionRationale:
When I first read McCracken's piece it inspired one of the most heated classroom debates I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I believe that effect was in no small part due to the simple elements of the story conspiring to problematize widely held beliefs concerning gender and society. McCracken's juxtaposition of traditional relationship elements with overt transgression of societal norms generates a rich environment for debate and critical reflection.Text Complexity Rubric:
Layout: Very ComplexPurpose and Meaning: Somewhat Complex
Structure: Somewhat Complex
Language Features: Somewhat Complex
Knowledge Demands: Complex
Title: “On The Rainy River” from The Things They Carried
Author: Tim O'Brien
Genre: Coming of age, short story, war story, historical fiction
Description:
“On The Rainy River” is the story of a young man struggling with the choice between accepting his draft notice for the Vietnam War or running to Canada. The tale plays out on the title river that sits on the border between the US and Canada.Themes:
The Morality of War, Responsibility, IntegrityRationale:
The title novel of O'Brien's collection is regularly taught at the 11th and 12th grade levels, but this selection is set prior to the narrator's military action. This brings the experience closer to home for students. Rather than asking them to meditate on the choices and repercussions of military experience, this text centers on the moment of engagement of a young individual into a global conflict.Lexile Level:
880LText Complexity Rubric:
Layout: Very ComplexPurpose and Meaning: Somewhat Complex
Structure: Somewhat Complex
Language Features: Somewhat Complex
Knowledge Demands: Somewhat Complex
Media Resources:
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/03/books/a-storyteller-for-the-war-that-won-t-end.html – A times article from the time of the collection's publication discussing O'Brien's return to Vietnam for both business and personal reasons. The article reinforces an image of the author as a real person with very real authority concerning the topics of his fiction.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june10/obrien_04-28.html – A PBS interview with O'Brien concerning the collection and the value of the text to himself and society.
Title: "Harrison Bergeron"
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Genre: Fiction
Description:
This is a safe short story to use in the classroom that will probably not need to be vetted by the district or parents as it exists in a few textbooks such as the Holt Elements Of Literature series. Anyhow the story takes place in a futuristic and dystopian future where anyone with any talents are shackled or implanted with handicapping devices. The main character for example has weights on his arms and legs because he is stronger than most. So, it is a story that can be used in many different contexts but i like in the context of lesson plan or unit about Angst and Rebellion against oppression, which teens love--or at least I did when I was that age. I would be a fun story to use in a unit on Utopia/Dystopia as well.Theme:
Angst. Rebellion. Dystopia/Utopia.Rationale:
One can find this short story in many compilations or anthologies but Welcome To The Monkey house is a must own in my opinion and there are many other short stories in it that are worth reading over and over again.Text Complexity:
Qualitatively this short story and others the compilation are probably at the upper high school level because of the layers of meaning in these short stories and the complexity of the themes that are woven throughout.Lexile Level:
810LMedia Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_BergeronA Reading Of Harrison Bergeron
--entry by: Ben Garcia
Title: "A Private Experience" from The Thing Around Your Neck
Author: Chimamanda Adichie
Genre: Short Story, Fiction, African Lit
Description:
Two women are caught in a violent street riot and take shelter in an abandoned shop. One is of the Igbo Christian religion, the other Muslim.Theme:
Stereotypes, Religion, Social ClassRationale:
This story examines the danger of stereotyping and only knowing a single story about a culture. The story is suspenseful, thought-provoking and opens the classroom to discussions about religious wars and prejudices.Text Complexity:
This story contains flash forwards that may confuse lower level readers. It contains mature content such as death, violence and a vaguely sexual scene.Lexile Level:
UnknownMedia Resources:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html (Amazing TED video by Adichie, directly links to story)